Ibiza, take me back ...

Ibiza, take me back ...

When New York's Polar Vortexes start bringing down my spirits, I escape to Ibiza in my mind.

The Ibiza I experienced last summer felt in some ways like an entirely different island from the one I visited in 2010, when I was on a mission to party like it was going out of style. While long clubbing nights were not entirely absent from this trip's itinerary, there were also intimate dinners and conversations in candlelit hideaways. We soaked up the sun in scene-y spots like Cala Bassa but also in deserted coves and stretches of sandy beach in Las Salinas. I even got to work out my gams, not just by running around in heels, but also taking a hike to enjoy some sublime vistas.

We got to enjoy Ibiza's many lively tastes. We developed an obsession with the unctuous jamón Iberico, played a few rounds of hot pepper roulette with pimentos de Padrón, and feasted on those delightful, tiny fried squid called chipirones—all with Ibiza's aquamarine waters and white sandy beaches just steps away.

It was such a wonderful surprise to discover this laid-back, languid side of Ibiza. I can't help but wonder ... what other delights will I find in the magic island the next time I return?